Out-of-State Offender Criminal Defense Lawyer in Utah
Being charged with a crime in Utah while living out of state carries the same weight as if you were a Utah resident. As an out-of-state defendant, you still have all the legal rights granted to Utah citizens, but asserting those rights can be challenging when you're not physically in the state. It's important to remember that even though your home state may have legalized marijuana, it remains illegal in Utah—and can lead to criminal charges if you’re caught driving through the state with it.
Out-of-State Criminal Defense Services
Our Provo/Orem-based criminal defense attorneys can assist you with a range of out-of-state criminal charges, including:
- Traffic Offenses If you receive a speeding ticket or another traffic violation while driving through Utah, our attorneys can handle your case. This includes areas like Moab, Nephi, and Kanab. Once you hire us, we can request the Utah Justice Court to excuse your absence and allow us to appear on your behalf. Many times, the court will excuse your attendance when you're represented by an attorney and are an out-of-state defendant.
- Misdemeanor Charges Out-of-state clients can be charged with Class A, Class B, or Class C misdemeanors just like Utah residents. Depending on your record and court history, the judge may waive your mandatory appearance if you're represented by a criminal defense attorney.
- Felony Charges While waiving your appearance in a felony case is more challenging, it's not impossible, especially for nonviolent first-time offenders. Your attorney will attempt to waive your attendance for initial matters, but attending pretrial hearings in person may be necessary.
- Video Conferencing for Out-of-State Clients Preparing for your case while living out of state is difficult but manageable. Our criminal defense attorneys can meet with you via Skype, FaceTime, or other video conferencing platforms. We can also use these tools to interview out-of-state witnesses, ensuring a comprehensive defense strategy.
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Common Out-of-State Criminal Charges in Utah
Many out-of-state visitors are charged with criminal offenses while enjoying Utah’s national parks, ski resorts, and outdoor activities. Common charges include:
- DUI
- Drug possession or use
- Metabolite drugged driving
- Impaired driving
These charges often occur in popular areas like national parks, state parks, ski resorts, or at the Salt Lake City International Airport.
What Happens If You Don’t Address an Out-of-State Warrant in Utah?
Failing to address a criminal charge or traffic citation in Utah can result in a warrant for your arrest. This warrant will not disappear over time, and prosecutors can request that it be extended. For example, if you are cited for marijuana possession while driving on I-15 near Moab and fail to appear in court, an arrest warrant will be issued.
Hiring a Provo/Orem criminal defense attorney can help lift the warrant. We will simultaneously request a pretrial conference to negotiate the case. You can check the status of your warrant online at the Utah Warrants Search page or ask your attorney to look up the case using the Utah Xchange public search tool.
Out-of-State Charges Will Not Go Away with Time
Ignoring your out-of-state criminal charges won’t make them disappear. Whether you’ve been charged while driving through Utah or visiting one of its national parks, you must address the issue to avoid more serious legal consequences down the line.
Generally your homestate will honor Utah’s request to suspend your license because of your Utah warrant.
Free Consultation for Criminal Charges
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Utah but live out of state, don’t wait. Contact Provo/Orem criminal defense attorney Jake Gunter for a free consultation. We offer video consultations via Skype and FaceTime to make the process easier for you. Call (801) 373-6345 to discuss your case today.